All material of or relating to Tenchi Muyo! are copyrighted by Pioneer LD and AIC.
All lyrical and instrumental material from Until It Sleeps by Metallica are copyrighted to Creeping Death Music (ASCAP)
The plot line and events contained within this fan fiction are copyrighted to William Benjamin Grilliette.

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{The sand of a beach lays still at the edge of a black pool,
highlighted by the mild moonlight filtering through the cloud cover
above. On this silicate soil, Ayeka sits in zarei fashion wearing her
pink kimono with her violet hair in twin ponytails trailing behind her
without her tiara Key when the music opens. She stands as her voice
takes the vocal, raising her fear-filled gaze to the front.}

Where do I take this pain of mine? {Her hands reach to cover her heart
               as she shuts her eyes tightly and dashes away from the dark
               lake with the end of the chord progression into a wooded area.}
I run, but it stays right my side. {She glances to the side to see a
               shadow glaring back at her with two crimson eyes glowing in the
               night. She gasps and jumps away and slowly steps backwards,
               her vision locked on the being before her in apprehension.}

So, tear me open; pour me out. {The shadow creature leaps at her,
               melting into black fire directed at the place she conceals on
               her chest. It rams into her, phasing through her fingers and
               the clothing into her heart.}
There’s things inside that scream and shout, {Her eyes widen, feeling
               the beast entering her soul and changing her eye color from the
               regal red to a controlled slate grey. She cringes as she
               recoils from the impact, taking her back several meters.}
And the pain still hates me {She looks up to the stars above while her
               mouth opens to scream out but is voiceless when the pain draws
               her within herself.}
So hold me, until it sleeps. {Her legs weaken and give into her weight,
               dropping her to the ground on her knees before she falls on her
               side into unconsciousness.}

Just like the curse, just like the stray... {Her crimson eyes open when
               she pushes away from the ground, rising to her hands and knees
               with labored breathing still feeling the impact that left her
               unconscious. Before her, she sees two feet composed of the
               same black fire that rammed its way into her chest.}
You feed it once, and now it stays. {Her gaze follow up the obsidian
               figure to its face of white porcelain, Kain II’s sadistic
               expression smiling back at her with pleasure.}
Now, it stays. {Ayeka gasps when Kain II’s bares fangs while his hand
               reaches down at grabs her neck, lifting her into the air
               effortlessly. She struggles, grabbing at his clawed hands in
               attempts to pull them away.}

So, tear me open, but beware. {His free claw grabs the neckline of her
               kimono and rips the clothes away from her body, revealing a
               shredded black combat uniform clinging to her form.}
There’s things inside without a care, {She looks up to the sky, closing
               her eyes crying defeated tears down her face as her captor
               ignites into that black blaze once more.}
And the dirt still stains me {She falls to her feet while his presence
               wraps around her, fading into her until only she remains, her
               expression blank and empty.}
So wash me, until I’m clean. {Ayeka stands alone while her head falls
               forward and hangs over her chest.}

It grips you so hold me. {Her eyes raise to be seen, grey and shadowed
               beneath the bangs of her hair. Dark Ayeka glares back with
               Kain II’s evil glare as Kagato’s Mark of Rage covers her
               cheeks.}
It stains you so hold me. {She extends her arms at angles to her sides
               as blood flows from the rips in her clothing, showing the
               wounds on her body and staining the uniform she wears.}
It hates you so hold me. {A red band appears across her forehead as the
               dark tiara Key appears in her hair, its bladed crest flaming
               alongside the thorns that threaten her skin.}
It holds you so hold me. {A white flash appears before her and fades to
               show Tsunami standing before her wearing the pure regalia of
               the Jurai Royal Family. She gazes sadly upon her sister’s
               fallen form, her own tears starting to form at the edges of her
               eyes.}

Until it sleeps... {The goddess steps forward and wraps her arms around
               Dark Ayeka who closes her tear-filled eyes in exhaustion as the
               black uniform and Mark of Rage fade away, leaving the pink
               kimono ripped and torn assunder.}
(Until it sleeps...) {Tsunami takes the thorn tiara off Ayeka’s
               forehead and tosses it away while gently holding her sister
               close to rest as all fades to black.}
(Until it sleeps...)

{Fire flares and brightens the scene to unveil the fields of Jurai,
ablaze around one bladed cross. Upon that cross, Ayeka hangs with her
ruddy combat garb looking weakly down to Kain II bearing his black
energy saber pleased with himself and approaching Tsunami. The goddess
kneels quietly and willingly before the dark being as he approaches her
slowly.}

So, tell me why you’ve chosen me. {Ayeka’s eyes pop open as she sees
               Kain II draw back his blade to strike at her sister’s neck.
               She begins to struggle weakly against the bindings holding her
               to the cross calling to Kain II and Tsunami.}
Don’t want your grip; don’t want your greed. {Light Hawk Wings appear
               out of Ayeka’s vision range near her bindings, forming into
               shimmering blades that cut halfway through her lashings. Ayeka
               continues to pull when her eyes gain an angry and hate-filled
               expression as a sea-blue aura surrounds her, burning away the
               ponytail ties in her hair.}
Don’t want it. {Ayeka screams out in a despirate rage when the aura
               explodes into a column of azure energy which envelops the crown
               princess and burns away the bindings of the cross.}

I’ll tear me open, make you gone. {The ruby eyes edged by tears glare
               down to Kain II as he spins around to witness the glory of the
               crown princess.}
No more can you hurt anyone, {The regal violet of her hair fades away
               to an azure of the oceans, her seas of her hair flowing with
               the light around her.}
And the fear still shakes me {Kain II turns away from Tsunami and leaps
               at Ayeka while readying his sword to strike the princess down.}
So hold me, until it sleeps. {Ayeka raises her arms to face their palms
               toward the dark being with the bright power around her
               funneling into the gap between her hands.}

It grips you so hold me. {The power in her hands explodes from her
               hands, directed exactly at Kain II’s chest.}
It stains you so hold me. {The dark beast sees the attack and dodges to
               the side for the Jurai Power to rip through his side, sending
               the purple ooze of his blood across the ground.}
It hates you so hold me. {He falls to the ground in a crumpled heap
               while Ayeka’s eyes, filled with rageful fire, target him
               again.}
It holds you, holds you, holds you... {As the music rises in intensity,
               the princess’s anger grows as she gathers more power to her
               hands when her eyes slowly close. The power around her fades
               as she falls from the sky, exhausted and spent from her
               ordeal.}

Until it sleeps... {Tsunami jumps to her feet into a sprint to catch
               Ayeka in her arms and lower her slowly to the ground, cradling
               her like a small child. The azure color of Ayeka’s hair fades
               away to violet with her consciousness into a deep sleep while
               the title lyric of the song echoes away.}

{Ayeka’s eyes open slowly as she stands alone on the bridge of Ryu-Oh.
Across her body, she wears a Juraian battlesuit of red and black, much
more traditional like the two knights. Her violet hair is tied in a
single ponytail now which rests behind her as she closes her eyes. In
her mind, she can still see Kain II smiling at her, taunting her,
tainting her.}

I don’t want it... {Her face cringes in anger, slightly baring her
               teeth.}
I don’t want it... want it... {The words echo in the princess’s soul as
               her fists grip tighter and tighter while she bares her teeth
               more and more when the blue aura surrounds her in this rage. A
               side door opens during this, allowing one person to look in on
               the princess, Sagami dressed in his own white combat gi.}
No...! {Her anger explodes around her as the violet hair shifts to
               azure, and her eyes open filled with a fire behind the royal
               crimson. Sagami gasps in awe of her power when her gaze darts
               over to his location.}

So, tear me open, but beware. {Ayeka’s face calms as she raises her
               hand, summoning her blue power to her palm while cautiously
               approaching the door.}
There’s things inside without a care, {Sagami steps out facing her in
               silence. She stops and blinks in surprise at his appearance
               when he asks her about what happened to her.}
And the dirt still stains me {She closes her eyes and bows her head in
               shame while the blue power in her hand fades away, allowing the
               arm to fall to her side.}
So wash me, ’til  I’m clean. {Her tears roll down her face as his hands
               rest on her shoulders. He looks down into her regretful
               visage, speaking softly and kindly his words for her.}

I’ll tear me open, make you gone. {Her arms rise and touch his sides
               gently as the two wrap their arms around each other, drawing
               each to the other.}
No longer will you hurt anyone, {The lady hides her face in the
               soldier’s chest, as the tears stain his uniform.}
And the hate still shakes me {Her sobs rock them both as they slide to
               their knees together.}
So hold me, until it sleeps... {He rocks her back and forth his his
               arms while rubbing her back.}

Until it sleeps... {The title phrase echoes into nothing as Sagami
               closes his eyes and holds Ayeka close in his embrace. She
               clings to him tightly, seeking forgiveness, and he nods
               forward, kissing her lightly on her forehead as the light dims,
               leaving them alone.}